Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1887-01-29
washington Letter.



WAsHIEGToS D. u. Jan 10th, 81.
Congress began the week with some
sweeping pension legislation. Its aJ-
tenlion WAS then turned % matters of
local interest appropriation bills, mis-
celianeOus business, and the discussion
Of the bill Tor establishing Agricultural
Experiment Stations. IL became stirred
Tor q day over the question of inVesti-
eating the management Of the Pacific
Railroads md the House finally set
tied down 10 deliberate over the Inter
state Commerce bill, which the Senate
passed last week
When the President sent a special
message 20 Congress asking that suita-
bic action be taken for celebrating the
Centennial Of the adoption OF the Con-
sliUution Of the United States, ne was
careful not 10 commit himself &c any
special tine or locality. De chopped
that IN spirit of patriotic co operation,
rather than OF local competition, Con
gre5s would proceed, etc" But the
committee Of seven Senators, who had
The audacity 70 declare that Washing
ton was the suitable place for holding
this celebration, have come Ia Tor q
large share Of criticism from rival cities.
Washington is the only city where
every American is At home, and in
which he feels the pride of An American
citizen s ownership, and the Exposition
will be given 70 Washington without "a
doubt. 1t will last from '89 TO 80.
There need not be a continuous rHshs
racket and carnival for three years. as
there would be over a public affair OF
this kind in q great commercial mart.
Washington Is not that kind OF city.
II cultiYates tranquility Of department,
hoo 1rrffT araur h1-tsuf hfncr araaa IN
enjoy everything in a quiet way 1t is
used to crowds and gatherings Of al
kinds. as indeed il ought TO be- for six
National conventions are being held
here during the present week.
Some members of Congress have said
that the principle object OF the Govern
ment ia The Pacific Railroad matter
was 10 get what was owing TO IL. OF
course il is desirable to save 5000, 000,-
coo, or as much of it as can be recover
ed, from those that have No right 10 it,
but a number of men IN both branches
Of Congress feel that the main thing to
be attained is the moral effect OF re-
buking corruption. The Government
can aiiOrd 10 lose the money, but It can
not afford 10 agree 10 a theft, if such
there has been. The desire to investi-
gate the management of the Pacific
Railroads Is not, therefore, born OF a
spirit OF prosecutions il IS simply the
duty OF Congress 70 90 to the bottom of
this matter.
Although the Senate voted to pension
the widow of Senator Logan at 3, 900
. year, the blll has come 10 grief IN the
House Committee on pensions. 10 is
claimed that 10 pension Mrs. Logan
would cost the Government, eventually.
half q million by encouraging every
widow whose husband had ever been in
the army. BUTT appears that the fund
provided for Eirs. Logan by the friends
aud admirers Of her husband has now
reached $4,000, with a prospect of
rising TO 100000, and this will obviate
all necessity OF straining pension pre-
cedents so as TO provide Tor her by act
uf Congress The citizens of Chicago
have also contributed $4,000 for the
payment of encnmbrauces upon the
hOme of Mrs. Logan in this city. The
notes have all been paid of in the past
few days, and Mrs Logan now owns
the house known as Calumet Place in
her own right.
The bill passed by the House pension
ing dependent soldiers and sailors, who
were not disabled in the service, bat
who are now too old aud too feeble to
work, and also pensiOning the depend
emit parents of soldiers and sailors. has
frightened those who are opposed TO
pensioling everybody who ever had
Anything TO do with "A war. They fear
Congress viii next undertake to pension
lifelong nOn-cOmbatants who have in
CURED physical or mental disability in
writing war articles for The papers and
magazines. The above mentioned bill
applied to veterans of any war, Sem
inele, Black Hawk, Mexican, war Of the
Rebellion and gives a uniform allow
anoe OF Si2 a month from the time Of
the passage Of the bill.
Then there is a proposition to pension
Walt Whitman, which, it is claimed.
would open the Treasury doors 10 an
army of 6C 600 new pensioners, claim
ing that they nursed some soldier some
where during the late war. They say
if Walt Whitman ought TO have S25 a
month, Clara Barton out TO have 81, 900
year.
Washington society is intensely curi-
Gus 10 see the bride of the Cabinet.
Mrs, Lamar, and its curiosity has in
creased with her evident desire 10 post
pone her public or even private appear
ance. Several of the ladies Of the Cab
iaet have called to see Ms. Lamar, but
rhe has thus far refused herself TO every
one She is said TO be "A typical south
srn woman who has always lived quiet
", and when she realizes that hundreds
Of pens are waiting to photograph her,
is is not surprising that she shrinks
from the public gaze. The wives of
the other Cabinet officers tell the Secre-
tary of the Interior now that they be-
leFe his bride is a myth.